Sundowns, Al Ahly Cruise, Yanga Edge Forward as Champions League Group Stage kicks Off
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Pretoria, South Africa & Dar es salaam, Tanzania – November 22, 2025 – The totalenergies CAF Champions League group stage began Saturday with commanding wins for Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly, alongside a hard-fought victory for Young Africans. The opening matches of the competition showcased both established powerhouses and emerging contenders vying for continental glory.
Sundowns Overcome Lupopo Challenge
Mamelodi Sundowns, considered favorites in Group C after a strong semi-final run last season, demonstrated their quality with a 3-1 victory over DR Congo’s St Éloi Lupopo at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. While facing a brief scare, Sundowns ultimately proved too strong for their opponents.
Nuno Santos emerged as the star of the show, netting a crucial brace to secure the win. The Portuguese forward opened the scoring early, finishing off a well-worked move in the 5th minute. However, Lupopo responded before halftime, with Wanet Kashala capitalizing on a defensive lapse to level the score and momentarily silence the home crowd.
The second half saw a dominant performance from sundowns. Marcelo Allende restored the lead in the 61st minute, again linking up effectively with Santos. Substitute Arthur Sales then provided a decisive assist,allowing Santos to complete his brace in the 77th minute and seal a deserved victory for the South African champions. The match wasn’t without tension, with yellow cards issued to Aubrey Modiba and Kashala, but Sundowns’ superior control and squad depth ultimately prevailed.
Yanga Secure Narrow Win Over FAR Rabat
In a tightly contested Group B encounter held in Dar es Salaam, Young Africans secured a 1-0 victory over Moroccan giants FAR Rabat. Playing at a neutral venue, Yanga relied on defensive discipline and clinical finishing to earn a vital opening win in what is widely considered one of the most competitive groups in the competition.
The breakthrough came in the 58th minute when Prince Dube reacted quickest inside the box to steer home the winning goal. FAR Rabat pressed for an equalizer in the latter stages, with substitutes Khabba and Tagnaouti receiving bookings during a late surge.Though,pedro Gonçalves’ side held firm,with standout performances from Mpia and Kouma proving instrumental in securing the three points.
These opening victories set the stage for an exciting group stage campaign, with Sundowns and Young Africans looking to build momentum while Al Ahly aims to continue their dominance on the African continent.
Key Takeaways:
* nuno Santos shines: The Sundowns forward proved pivotal with a two-goal performance.
* Yanga’s resilience: Young Africans demonstrated their ability to grind out results against strong opposition.
* Competitive Groups: The early matches highlight the challenging nature of this year’s Champions League groups.
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